An almost weekly update of environmental news, particularly marine updates, with occasional splatters of transportation, indigenous, ideas of sustainability and sustainable development from around the world.

1.3.07

Indonesia Aims To Cut Forest Fires By Half This Year

1 March 2007By Sujadi SiswoTODAY

BRUNEI - The Indonesian government said yesterday it hoped to reduce theannual incidence of forest fires by half this year.

Mr Rahmat Witoelar, the Indonesian Environment Minister, said that hiscountry has come out with a multi-million dollar plan to tackle the fires.

However, he added that Indonesia could do with more assistance to tacklethe menace.

"I think it is our primary responsibility that Indonesia has funding ofits own," he told Channel NewsAsia. "But we welcome other sources offunding, whether it is international or bilateral to supplement what weneed."

He was speaking on the first day of a two-day Association of South-eastAsian Nations environment ministers meeting here.

Indonesia is confident that the comprehensive plan, which includesreaching out to thousands of farming communities in Sumatra andKalimantan, will be able to reduce the forest fires by half, he said.

Singapore will be assisting the Indonesian government by working in Jambi,Sumatra, to help local authorities tackle the problem at its roots.

Said Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Singapore's Water Resources and EnvironmentMinister: "If we are able to develop the plan and get local ownershipquickly, that means building capacity at the local area, over the longrun we are confident we can reduce the problem.

"In the short term, I think we have to be very realistic, there are gapsespecially in terms of capacity. Funding is a major concern."

Malaysia is considering a similar approach.

The haze was particularly bad last year, prompting the five affectednations - Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand - to hold asub-regional meeting to find a solution.

The choking haze, the result of "slash and burn" activities by farmers andothers in Sumatra and Kalimantan, usually envelops the region around thethird quarter of the year.